Flamed flags have a long tradition in Switzerland. For those who never
saw such a flag: the flames a kind of wavy rays from the center to the edge
of the flag. They usually come in two or three colors.

These flags were mainly used by Swiss mercenary troops. Here the colors
of the commander of a regiment (usually a Swiss noble) were arranged in such
flames. The last (and only) mercenary regiment still in service is the Swiss
Guard in Vatican.

The cantonal flags do not have any official standing, nevertheless they
are seen quite often because of their attractive design. Here the cantonal
arms are placed on a two-color flamed background. The colors are usually the
ones of the arms

The wavy flames radiating from the center originated in the 16th century.
In Switzerland proper cantonal flags predominated over the confederate white
cross, but in mercenary service the units were mixed and of little cantonal
significance. Mercenary

The Swiss Guards Regiment in France (which was massacred in the August
1792 assault on the Tuilleries, an event commemorated by the Lion monument
in Lucerne) had a rainbow design of black, blue, yellow and red rays.

The de Meuron Regiment, which served the British in India and America
from 1795 to 1816 had similar rays in all cantons but the first which was
the UJ (altered in 1801 to include the St. Patrick saltire).

French regiments of the 18th century borrowed the Swiss cross and put
their own regional devices in the cantons.

The Swiss Guard does not have a regimental flag any more, but I think
the colors of the uniforms go back to such a flag.Harald Müller, 14 May 1996

If the Guard no longer has a flag, that is relatively recent. I think
each pope presented a new one. There is one hanging in the Musée
des Suisses au Service Etranger near Geneva. It consist of the Swiss
white cross extended to the edges, the arms of Colonel Pfyffer d'Altishofen
in the 1st quarter, the arms of Pius XII (1939-1958) in the 4th, and
horizontal rays in the colors of the Guard uniformT.F. Mills, 14 May 1996

The Swiss were a special class of mercenaries, because they belonged
to Switzerland first and secondarily to their foreign employer. In
1515 at the battle of Marignan two Swiss armies did each other
considerable damage. Some time later the Swiss negotiated "military
capitulations" with other countries whereby mercenary regiments
enjoyed unusual extra-territorial rights. The units flew their own
Swiss flags, were officered only by Swiss, the men were subject to
Swiss law, and Switzerland reserved the right forbid mercenary
regiments from participating in campaigns which might bring them into
battle with other Swiss units. Swiss regiments in France were
essentially Swiss colonies, and legally not considered mercenaries.

A few days ago, I posted the flag of the "Cent Suisses", the French
King's company of Swiss guards. That company belonged to a larger
regiment called the "Regiment des Gardes-Suisses". The Swiss
"mercenaries" were temporarily engaged for campaigns until 1616 when
this permanent regiment was formed from the Gallati Regiment. The
"Cent Suisses" guarded the King inside the royal residence and the
"Gardes-Suisses" mounted guard outside the building. On 10 Aug.
1792 the Paris mob stormed the Tuilleries Palace where the Swiss
were guarding the King and killed some 600 Swiss (at a cost to
themselves of 3,000). On 3 Sept., 156 Swiss prisoners were
slaughtered. When Switzerland heard the news, they withdrew all
their other regiments from France. The Lion Monument in Lucerne
commemorates this Swiss tragedy.

by T.F. Mills

The Regiment de Gardes Suisses had six flags. I think they were
identical, but they probably evolved over time. Attached is a GIF
of one representation I have seen. It has the typical white Swiss
cross "traversante" and thirteen "piles wavy" in each quarter. I have
seen another version with only 9 stripes per quarter, and a small
fleur de lis at the end of each arm of the cross. A white cravate
tied to the pike signified that the regiment was in the service of
France.